Theophany facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A theophany is a special moment when a deity (a god or goddess) appears to people in a way they can see or experience. It's like a visible sign or manifestation of a god.

Sometimes, a god might not appear in a physical form, but instead, people feel a strong inner connection or receive a message. This is often called divine revelation or divine inspiration. If a god is believed to become a human, like in some religions, it's called an incarnation or an avatar.

The word "theophany" was first used for the appearances of gods in ancient Greek and Near Eastern religions. The oldest stories about gods appearing to humans come from the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad.

For Christians and Jews, a theophany specifically means an event where the Abrahamic God shows His presence to a person, as described in the Bible.

Ancient Greek Religion

In ancient Greece, gods often appeared to humans. For example, Zeus appeared to Semele, but his power was too much for her, and she was burned. However, most Greek theophanies were not so dangerous.

A famous story is about Prometheus, a Titan (not an Olympian god), who brought the gift of fire to humans. Sometimes, people in historical times also experienced divine appearances, either in dreams or when they were awake. These experiences often led to new ways of worship or special offerings.

Theophanies were even acted out at Greek festivals. At Delphi, there was an annual festival called Theophania in spring. It celebrated Apollo's return from his winter home. The festival ended with a special moment when a hidden image of the gods was shown to the worshippers. Later, Roman mystery religions also had similar displays.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, seeing a god is called darśana, which means "sighting." When gods take human or animal forms on Earth, they are known as avatars. Two very popular avatars of Vishnu are Krishna and Rama.

One of the most famous theophanies in Hinduism is found in the Bhagavad-Gita, a part of the epic story the Mahabharata. On a battlefield, Krishna teaches the warrior Arjuna. Arjuna asks Krishna to show him his "universal form." Krishna agrees and gives Arjuna a special vision to see him in this amazing and powerful form, which contains everything in the universe. This incredible sight is described in Chapter XI.

The Mahabharata also describes other divine appearances. For example, the god Indra appears to Kunti, leading to the birth of the hero Arjuna. Near the end of the epic, the god Yama (also called Dharma) takes the form of a dog to test the kindness of Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira refuses to leave his dog companion, and for this, Dharma praises him.

Judaism

The Hebrew Bible tells us that God revealed Himself to people. God spoke with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:9–19), with Cain (Gen 4:9–15), and with Noah (Gen 6:13) and his sons (Gen 9:1-8). He also appeared to Abraham and his wife Sarah (Gen 18), and twice to Hagar (Gen 16).

The prophet Moses had his first revelation of Yahweh at the burning bush. It was a "great sight," and he was "afraid to look" (3:3, 6%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Ex. 3:3, 6 {{{2}}}). Other prophets like Samuel, Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah also had visions or "sights" of God.

The Torah emphasizes that while God spoke to other prophets in visions or dreams, He spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth," "as a man would speak with his neighbor," clearly and not in riddles (12:6–8%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Num. 12:6–8 {{{2}}}).

The Burning Bush

In Midian, while Moses was looking after his father-in-law Jethro's sheep, the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a bush that was on fire but wasn't burning up (Exodus 3:1-2). Yahweh called to Moses from the bush and told him He had heard His people's suffering in Egypt. God then commanded Moses to speak to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:3-12).

The Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire

God showed His presence and protection to the Israelites by leading them out of Egypt and through the desert. He appeared as a Pillar of cloud during the day and a Pillar of fire at night. This guided them on their journey.

Mount Sinai

The theophany at biblical Mount Sinai is described in Exodus 19:16–25. When YHWH appeared, there was thunder and lightning, a fiery flame reaching the sky, and a loud trumpet sound. The whole mountain smoked and shook. From the fire and cloud, a voice spoke the Ten Commandments. This event is also described in Deut. 4:11-12.

In the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:2-31), God's appearance is described like a storm: the earth shakes, Sinai trembles, and clouds drop water.

In Isaiah and Ezekiel

The biblical prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel received their special tasks as prophets during amazing appearances of God. Isaiah saw God on a very high throne. He saw God's glorious robe filling the entire Temple of Heaven. Around the throne were seraphim, six-winged angels. They used two wings to cover their faces (out of respect for God), two to cover their feet, and two to fly. They constantly praised God, crying out "Holy!" three times (vi.%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Isa. vi. {{{2}}}).

Ezekiel described God's throne as a wonderful chariot. A storm, a great cloud, constant fire, and bright light surrounded the appearance. From the fire, four creatures appeared. They had human faces, four wings each, and feet that allowed them to move quickly in any direction. Ezekiel recognized these living creatures as cherubim (x 20%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Ezek. x 20 {{{2}}}). Fire moved between them, and their wings made a thunder-like sound when they moved. Above them was a firmament (a solid dome) with God's throne on it. On the throne, Ezekiel saw a divine being that looked like a man.

David's Theophany

A different kind of theophany is described in Psalm 18:8–16. David was in great trouble and prayed for help. God appeared to save him. The earth trembled, and fire glowed. God rode on a cherub carried by the wind. Clouds surrounded God, but His brightness shone through. With thunder and lightning, God defeated David's enemies and rescued him.

Christianity

Christians generally recognize the same Old Testament theophanies as Jews. The New Testament also mentions at least two theophanies.

Some early Christian writers, like Eusebius of Caesarea (who lived in the 4th century AD), used the term "theophany" to talk about the incarnation of Jesus (when God became human). However, usually, an incarnation is not considered a theophany because a theophany is usually a temporary and sudden appearance of God.

Traditionally, Christian scholars see a theophany as a clear appearance of God to humans. If it's a more general sacred appearance, the term hierophany is used.

Catholic Christianity

The New Catholic Encyclopedia gives examples of theophanies. One is in Genesis 16:7–14, where an angel first appears to Hagar. But then, it says God spoke directly to her, and she saw God and lived (Genesis 16:13).

Another example is in Genesis 22:11–15, where an angel speaks to Abraham. However, the angel speaks God's words in the first person, saying "withhold from me" (Genesis 22:12). This means the voice is God's, spoken through the angel. A similar event happened with Moses and the burning bush, where Moses first saw an angel but then spoke directly with God (3%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Exodus 3 {{{2}}}).

The New Catholic Encyclopedia also mentions a few theophanies from the Gospels, like when Jesus hears a voice from Heaven at his baptism (1:9-11%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Mark 1:9-11 {{{2}}}) and the Transfiguration, where the Father speaks (9:28–36%20{{{2}}};&version=KJV; Luke 9:28–36 {{{2}}}).

Orthodox Christianity

Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate the epiphany of Jesus Christ on January 6th as one of their Great Feasts. In Western Orthodox Christian Churches, January 6th is called Epiphany Day, while the Feast of Theophany is celebrated on the following Sunday.

In Orthodox Christian tradition, this feast remembers the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist.

Evangelical Christianity

Some modern evangelical Christian Bible experts believe that "the angel of the Lord" who appears in many places in the Old Testament is actually Jesus before he became human. This is called a Christophany. They also use the term Christophany for appearances of Christ after he became human, in both the Old and New Testaments.

Latter Day Saint Movement

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, said that when he was 14, God the Father and Jesus Christ visited him in a grove of trees near his home. This "First Vision" is considered a theophany and is a very important event for the Latter Day Saint movement. The Book of Mormon also describes other hierophanies and theophanies that happened in the Americas.

For example, a scholar named Blake Ostler studied the vision of Lehi in the First Book of Nephi. He found that theophanies in the Bible and the Book of Mormon have many similarities.

And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a Vision, even that he saw the Heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his Throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of Heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.

Nontrinitarians

Some Christian groups, like Jehovah's Witnesses, who have different beliefs about Christ, might see some appearances of angels (especially the archangel Michael) as Christophanies (appearances of Christ) but not as Theophanies (appearances of God the Father).

Other groups, like Christadelphians, understand the "angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament simply as angels, similar to how Jews interpret them. They believe God is revealed through His various names and through Christ.

Islam

The most important divine appearance in Islam is the Mi'raj, which is the Prophet Muhammad's journey into Heaven where he spoke to the Holy Spirit (Gabriel). This is sometimes called "a night journey from Mecca through Jerusalem."

Baháʼí Faith

The Baháʼí Faith believes that God appears through His prophets, whom they call "Manifestations of God." These include figures like Zoroaster, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Baháʼu'lláh. These Manifestations are seen as perfect mirrors that reflect God's qualities into the human world to help humanity progress and improve. They are the only way for humans to truly know about God.

Thomas Kelly Cheyne, an Oxford scholar, wrote in 1914 that a religion without a "Theophany" (a visible appearance of God) feels "dry." He described Baháʼu'lláh as a "true Image of God" who helps fix problems that stop God's Kingdom from being established.

A 1991 article in the Journal of Bahá’í Studies described "Bahá’í theophanology" as accepting the Prophet, or "Manifestation of God," who speaks for God. The article mentioned that Bahá’u’lláh wrote letters to kings and rulers in the 1860s, including Pope Pius IX, Napoleon III, and Queen Victoria. In these letters, he spoke with a "forceful, theophanic voice," calling them to make reforms and warning them of dangers if they didn't follow his guidance.

Druze Faith

The Druze faith believes in reincarnation (the soul moving to a new body). They do not refer to specific theophanies, but they believe that God became human in the form of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad, the founder of the Druze, announced in 1018 that al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah was the incarnation of God.

Modern Theophanies

Teofanía ("Theophany") by Mexican artist Antonio García Vega

In more recent times, some people have reported experiencing theophanies. For example, science fiction author Philip K. Dick reportedly had a theophany on February 3, 1974. This experience later became the basis for his books VALIS (1981) and Radio Free Albemuth (1985).

In 1977, Michel Potay said he witnessed five theophanies. He published the text he claimed to receive from God in "The Book," which is the second part of The Revelation of Ares.

Many modern cases of divine encounters have been shared through books and media, such as:

A Course in Miracles, which is believed by some to be divinely channeled (received from a divine source).
The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees, where the author claims to have communicated with spirits living in trees.

These are different from stories where divine encounters are clearly made up by the author, which is common in speculative fiction.

Images for kids

The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan, Exodus 13:21-22: By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire.
Ezekiel's Vision by Raphael, c. 1518